I can't help but agree to an extent. Psychology and mental health or what have you has always been based on a norm. Well, to arrive at a norm I understand one needs a curve with persons all along the curve and actually it is possible for less to be in the middle(average) and more to bne located elsewhere, which in turn shifts the middle (average). When we look around the world today it appears to me that the average has shifted and skewed the results of what we can really call average, normal, or the middle. I would think that "average" would constantly be changing the same as the rest of nature. However, autistic persons should be recognized and their talents honed or like other gifts from nature that we squander and abuse we can lose what is presented to us in our time of need.

Along the lines of "Autism" and "intelligence (moreso than previously thought..)," I have to completely agree on the intelligence. It just takes more time to "see." I am the mom of five kids, the last two being on the "spectrum." It has been an eye opener, a way of experiencing a whole new world. A whole different depth of thought... even if it takes more time to figure out through the use of gestures, signs, mixed up sentence structure, word usage or AAC device... it really makes you think, their way of perceiving. There is more than one side to everything. Everyday with these children provides new insight, adventure, and a fascinating new outlook....It's just the hell the school district (those over special ed services)can, and will, put you through.

But Baggs, who was verbal for years and years, and went to college, has long been a controversial figure in the autistic community. I was surprised Wired didn't touch on any of that.